Chapter 1213: The Sword Lord Cannot Be Insulted
"Broken... broken!?"
"His Heartless Sword Domain was completely shattered! And Yun Che doesn’t even have a scratch?"
"Probably because Jun Xilei was seriously injured... probably, right?"
Ten miles away, Jun Xilei crashed heavily to the ground, stumbling back more than ten steps before the flames on her body were barely extinguished. Before she could even steady herself, the Heaven-Defying Sword slammed down from above.
Clang!!
For the first time, the Wuguang Sword and the Heaven-Defying Sword clashed head-on. Amid the eruption of two immense forces, Yun Che was blasted far away, while Jun Xilei staggered back several steps and let out a wild spray of blood from her mouth. Her face grew even paler, but before she could even catch a moment’s breath, the Golden Crow Phantom God suddenly descended from the sky, and a torrent of Golden Crow Flame ruthlessly rained down.
The Golden Crow Flame, which possessed only half of Yun Che’s power, should have posed no threat to Jun Xilei at all. But she had been heavily wounded by Yun Che’s first sword strike, then suffered a second injury within the Heartless Sword Domain, and also endured the backlash of having her domain forcibly broken. Yun Che’s follow-up sword blow had completely shattered the injuries she had barely suppressed…
At this moment, the Golden Crow Phantom God’s attack was nothing less than a nightmare for her.
Amid the exploding flames, Jun Xilei let out a muffled groan. Once again, she was sent flying sideways amidst fire, crashing down far away.
She suppressed the flames on her body and stubbornly tried to stand. But just as she straightened her upper body, her entire aura suddenly became chaotic. Several streams of reverse blood surged out from her mouth, each carrying large clumps of bloody clots. Her entire strength seemed to be drained away along with that reverse blood, causing her to collapse to the ground, unable to rise for a moment.
Her gaze shifted from icy cold to hazy… She couldn’t believe that in such a short time of fighting Yun Che, she had been wounded to this extent.
"Alas," Jun Wuming closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Jun Xilei had ultimately underestimated her opponent… No, it should be said that her hatred for Yun Che was too intense, overwhelming all other thoughts, and thus she was exploited by Yun Che in turn.
If she had set aside her hatred for Yun Che and fought with full force, even if Yun Che was far stronger than three days ago, the outcome would never have been what it was now.
The backlash from the breaking of the Heartless Sword Domain was not severe in itself; the Golden Crow Phantom God’s attack was not threatening by itself; she could easily block Yun Che’s heavy sword head-on… But, precisely because of the heavy injury from the very first exchange, everything that followed only kept worsening her wounds. By this point, she could barely turn the tide.
If Jun Xilei lost this battle, it could indeed be said that she lost quite unjustly. Her sword dao, which could astonish the entire God Realm, had only managed to open a Heartless Sword Domain before failing to sustain it. For her, this would be a brutal lesson. On the other hand, Yun Che was not only a freak in terms of profound way, but his scheming far surpassed Jun Xilei.
Yun Che did not take the opportunity to blast Jun Xilei off the Feng Shen Platform. Instead, he dragged the Heaven-Defying Sword and walked forward slowly and unhurriedly. The Golden Crow Phantom hovered above him, releasing a scorching flame might.
Sensing Yun Che’s approaching aura, Jun Xilei slowly raised her hand. Her gaze was icy cold, with a hint of dullness. Her jade-like teeth were stained with blood, clenched tightly together: "Despicable… little man…"
"Despicable? Hah…" Yun Che gave a cold laugh. "Back then, when you maliciously struck Huo Poyun with a heavy sword blow, causing him to lose all face and dignity, why didn’t you think of the word ‘despicable’?"
"Just now, if you hadn’t tried the same trick again to make me lose face and suffer a humiliating defeat, how could you have ended up like this? The outcome now is simply the result of your own doing!"
"You…"
"Oh, right." Yun Che’s smile grew colder, with no pity in his mockery. "Didn’t you say back then that ‘Golden Crow Flame is nothing special’? But now, you’re losing so badly under my Golden Crow Flame. Doesn’t that mean your sword dao doesn’t even deserve the words ‘nothing special’!"
He knew well Jun Xilei’s hatred for him. Every time she looked at him, her gaze seemed to want to cut him into a thousand pieces. Since that was the case, he had no need to be polite; he might as well offend her completely… Besides, she had seriously wounded Huo Poyun first and then looked down on the Golden Crow Flame.
"…" Jun Xilei’s entire body trembled. Her originally pale face quickly took on an abnormal flush. "Yun… Che…"
Ding!
As if something had suddenly shattered, after a soft sound, Jun Xilei, who was severely injured, suddenly shot up into the air. In an instant, the sky was filled with sword intent. Jun Xilei was drenched in blood, the hatred in her pupils like countless sharp swords piercing heart and soul. In her hand, the Wuguang Sword pointed straight at the sky, letting out a clear sword cry.
"Is this… the Yan Star Sword Formation?"
Jun Wuming’s gaze shifted, and he shouted sharply, "Lei'er, stop!"
Jun Xilei’s action was clearly the starting move of the Yan Star Sword Formation. Normally, Jun Xilei could easily control the Yan Star Sword Formation, but now, forcing it would only drastically worsen her injuries.
Yun Che had personally witnessed Jun Xilei’s Yan Star Sword Formation before. It was under this fearsome sword formation that Luo Changsheng had been wounded.
But unfortunately, under her current state, the aura of the forcibly activated sword formation didn’t make him feel even a sliver of threat. He simply sneered, the Heaven-Defying Sword’s flame power swelling, and slashed down with a strike of "Golden Annihilation."
Bang!!
The sword formation had yet to take shape before it was shattered by the flame sword. Under the backlash, Jun Xilei’s entire body shook violently. The profound energy and sword momentum she had just gathered wildly dissipated. Yun Che’s sword momentum shifted, and a massive force from the Heaven-Defying Sword mercilessly slammed into Jun Xilei’s body.
Boom!!
A pained groan escaped her. Jun Xilei fell headlong from the air, crashing to the ground. The Wuguang Sword slipped from her hand, drawing a pale arc in the space and flying far, far away.
The "ding" of it hitting the ground seemed to ring in everyone’s hearts and souls.
Jun Xilei’s sword… had slipped from her hand.
To the lineage of the Sword Lord, a sword is as important as life itself… no, it is even more important than life. Being a Sword Lord means spending one’s entire life in companionship with the sword, taking the sword as life, as dignity, as belief.
Having one’s sword knocked out of hand is the greatest defeat and humiliation for a Sword Lord.
Even in her battle with Luo Changsheng, where she had been wounded to the point of exhaustion, the Wuguang Sword had never once left her hand.
Yun Che’s time in the God Realm was still short, so he didn’t understand this point. But when the Wuguang Sword hit the ground, the quiet and eerie atmosphere in the spectator stands, and Jun Xilei’s instantly dulled pupils, vaguely told him something.
However, he certainly didn’t care. He coldly turned around and said dismissively, "Just surrender and admit defeat. Or, you could knock yourself unconscious. That way, you might manage to lose with a bit more dignity."
"Oh, right. There’s a saying my master personally taught you last time, but it seems you haven’t learned it. I don’t mind teaching you again."
"Those who insult others will themselves be insulted in turn!"
Jun Xilei: "…"
Yun Che turned his back to her, his voice a cold warning: "Don’t think you’re the one who’s been wronged. Whether back in the Yin Xue Realm or now, this is all your own doing! It’s best if you don’t come provoking me again in the future. Otherwise… even if you’re a woman, I won’t show mercy. I’ll only make you look even worse than today!"
Having said that, Yun Che walked away without looking back.
Pff…
Behind him, there was the sound of spitting blood. But this time, it wasn’t from Jun Xilei’s injuries acting up; it was her heart blood surging in reverse due to extreme anger.
Jun Xilei’s face alternated between pale and red. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably. Blood dripped from her lips, her jade-like teeth clenched as if about to shatter. Shame, anger, hatred, killing intent… Like the most terrifying nightmare in the world, they surged through every corner of her body and soul.
She was the successor of the Sword Lord, a status so glorious and noble that even a Realm King from a star realm would grovel before her, never daring to show the slightest disrespect. Her talent and strength fully matched this identity. She was ranked among the "Four Divine Sons" of the Eastern Divine Realm, a name known to all. Among the younger generation outside the royal realms of the Eastern Divine Realm, only Luo Changsheng could defeat her.
She firmly believed that one day she would replace her master and become the Sword Lord of the Eastern Divine Realm. No one in the world doubted this.
In this Feng Shen Battle, she truly displayed her strength, astonishing the entire Eastern Divine Realm.
But in this battle, all her dignity was shattered to pieces under the eyes of the crowd. What covered her body was not blood, but a humiliation that could never be washed away.
In the Yin Xue Realm, it was him who made her suffer the greatest humiliation of her life.
She could lose.
But how could she lose to him… how could she lose so disgracefully!
"Alas," Shui Qianheng said with regret. "Yun Che’s strength has skyrocketed to Jun Xilei’s level. This battle should have been brilliant, perhaps even surpassing the battle between Yun Che and Lu Lengchuan. But… what a pity, what a pity."
Shui Yingyue frowned and said, "Jun Xilei is extremely proud and values dignity highly. But in this battle, she didn’t even utilize ten percent of her strength before suffering a crushing defeat. It’s a complete loss of face… And it seems Yun Che was deliberately humiliating her. There must be some enmity between them."
Shui Qianheng pondered for a moment and said, "This Sword Lord successor is still too young after all. Yingyue, your next opponent is that kid Yun Che… It might become a tough battle."
Shui Yingyue nodded slightly: "Father, rest assured. Jun Xilei has already set a precedent. In three days, when I fight Yun Che, I won’t have the slightest carelessness or hold back!"
"Mm." Shui Qianheng nodded, then his brow furrowed. He turned his gaze to Jun Xilei and murmured, "What is she doing?"
"Yun… Che………… Stop!!"
Behind Yun Che came Jun Xilei’s bloodied, trembling voice. Every word was filled with piercing hatred.
Yun Che stopped walking, slowly turned around, and met Jun Xilei’s gaze. The hatred in her eyes was as intense as an endless abyss that wanted to devour him entirely. Perhaps all the resentment she had accumulated in her life couldn’t compare to this single moment.
But to Yun Che, he had seen similar looks far too many times. He remained completely unmoved and said coldly, "What, you still want to continue fighting me? Aren’t you afraid you’ll end up looking even worse later? If you want revenge, just obediently admit defeat, go down, and heal your injuries. I’ll be happy to oblige anytime!"
"…" Jun Xilei’s chest heaved violently. Her gaze took on a terrifying darkness. She slowly straightened her upper body, then, bit by bit, stood up with extreme difficulty.
"I… how… can… lose… to… you…"
"Hah!" Yun Che let out a cold laugh and was about to mock her when suddenly his brows furrowed.
In his line of sight, Jun Xilei’s eyes were like an abyss. Her arm slowly lifted, reaching behind her back… reaching for the ancient sword that she always carried on her back, no matter when or where, even during the Feng Shen Battle. Her bloodstained hand grasped the bronze-colored hilt.
Her action stunned everyone. Those experts from the Star Realm who knew what that ancient sword was all changed expression slightly.
At the edge of the spectator stands, Jun Wuming, who had remained calm even through Jun Xilei’s crushing defeat, suddenly changed color. A loud shout erupted like a clap of thunder: "Lei'er, stop!!"
Jun Wuming’s roar was terrifying. The shock caused many experts to almost spit blood. Jun Xilei’s whole body shook violently, but her hand still gripped the sword hilt, not letting go.
Yun Che’s expression gradually darkened. A strong sense of unease assaulted his heart and soul.
"Lei'er! Do you want to throw away your life!" Jun Wuming’s figure flashed rapidly until he reached the edge of the Feng Shen Platform. His face was gravely serious. "Do not use the Wuming Sword! That is a master’s command!"
Countless profound practitioners from the Eastern Divine Realm were shocked, hardly believing that the Sword Lord himself would react so violently. In an instant, Quhui Zunzhe reflexively stepped in front of Jun Wuming, fearing that he might suddenly intervene… even though he was the Sword Lord.
"…" Jun Xilei’s chest heaved more and more violently, but her gaze remained like an abyss. She stared at Yun Che, blood dripping from her lips. She spoke word by word:
"Master’s… command… cannot… be… violated…"
"The Sword Lord… also… cannot… be… insulted!!"
Clang!!
Jun Xilei swung her arm down. With a heavy sound, "Wuming" was drawn from its sheath.
An unparalleled sword might silently descended upon the world.
Under this sword might, Yun Che felt as if swept by a hurricane. With a muffled groan, he retreated dozens of steps, his internal organs feeling as if weighed down by ten thousand jun. Utter shock filled his heart.
It was only the moment of the sword’s unsheathing!
Zheng~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Around Yun Che, from every direction came the chaotic sound of swords trembling.
In the spectator stands, countless swords were shuddering and humming. Every sword carried by the profound practitioners present was no ordinary weapon. But the moment "Wuming" was drawn, they all let out a hum of fear and submission, as if a commoner had suddenly seen an emperor appear.